The volume of shipping traffic passing by the Maltese islands is well known. However, the amount of pollution they’re pumping out and the effects that is having on the island’s population remain unknown. At the University of Malta, Prof. Raymond Ellul and his team (Department of Geosciences) are using mathematical models to predict these emissions whilst simultaneously measuring them in the atmospheres of Gozo and Malta.
As late as the early 90s, Maltese groups had yet to gather any data related to Maltese and Mediterranean pollution. In response to this lacuna, the University of Malta set up a monitoring station in Gozo. With limited instruments, only ozone, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide could be measured. Now, thanks to some well-placed funds, their arsenal includes analysers for nitrous oxide and aerosols.
The international implementation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on all ships, has aided the cause, giving vital information on ship identification, position and speed. This, combined with vessel specific information such as the type of engine, fuel types, and experimentally determined emissions factors, allows them to be applied to a Finnish mathematical model called STEAM that predicts an individual ships output of toxic nitrous oxide, sulphur oxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Estimates show that Malta is dealing with high levels of all of these chemicals.
To protect inhabitants of the Maltese islands from exposure to these harmful fumes, new evidence-based policies need to be introduced. Prof. Ellul points towards the Baltic and North seas as an example to follow, having made their seas SECA areas, meaning they are Sulphur Emissions Controlled. Here, ships are required to use fuel containing drastically reduced amounts of sulphur. However, the team is aware that instituting this in the Mediterranean will not be easy due to the large number of countries involved, vested financial interests and a selection of problematic governmental situations.
This said, as the mass of evidence and the awareness of it grows, its momentum should be enough to create change for the benefit of health of the Mediterranean population, Malta included.